The unifying theme of the Lee lab is the elucidation of molecular mechanisms underlying genome/epigenome management using toolkits of biochemistry, chemical, and structural biology. In particular, we are interested in how DNA repair and epigenetic regulation maintain genomic and epigenomic integrity. Our current research interests include translesion DNA synthesis, DNA interstrand cross-links, and epigenetic regulation.

Jung H, Lee S. Insights into the mismatch discrimination mechanism of Y-family DNA polymerase Dpo4. Biochem. J. 2021, 478, 1769-1781

Ouzon-Shubeita H, Schmaltz LF, Lee S. Insights into the substrate discrimination mechanism of methyl-CpG-binding domain 4. Biochem. J. 2021, 478, 1985-1997

DNA interstrand cross-links induced by the major oxidative adenine lesion. Rozelle AL, Cheun Y, Vilas CK, Koag MC, Lee S. Nature Communications 2021, 12, 1897

Structural insights into the bypass of the major deaminated purines by translesion synthesis DNA polymerase. Biochem J. 2020. 477, 4797-4810  doi: 10.1042/BCJ20200800

Translesion synthesis of the major nitrogen mustard-induced DNA lesion by human DNA polymerase η. Biochem J. 2020, 477(23):4543-4558 doi: 10.1042/BCJ20200767

Promutagenic bypass of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine by translesion synthesis DNA polymerase Dpo4. Biochem J. 2020, 477, 2859-2871.

Catalytic mechanism of the mismatch-specific DNA glycosylase methyl-CpG-binding domain 4. Biochem J. 2020, 477, 1601-1612

Mutagenesis mechanism of the major oxidative adenine lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine. Nucleic Acids Res. 2020, 48, 5119-5134.

Structural insights into the promutagenic bypass of the major cisplatin-induced DNA lesion. Biochem J. 2020 477, 937-951.

Bypass of the Major Alkylative DNA Lesion by Human DNA Polymerase η. Molecules 2019, 24, 3928

Mutagenic replication of the major oxidative adenine lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenine by human DNA polymerases. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 4584-4596

Structural basis for the bypass of the major oxaliplatin-DNA adducts by human DNA polymerase η.  Biochem J. 2019, 476, 747-758

Promutagenicity of 8-chloroguanine, a major inflammation-induced halogenated DNA lesion. Molecules 2019, 24, 3507

Insights into the effect of minor groove interactions and metal cofactors on mutagenic replication by human DNA polymerase β.  Biochem J. 2018, 475, 571-585.

Synthesis of 23-deoxy-25-epi north unit of cephalostatin 1 via reductive and oxidative modifications of hecogenin acetate. Steroids 2017, 118:68-75

N7 Methylation alters base-pairing patterns of guanine. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 14067-14070.

Metal-dependent conformational activation explains highly promutagenic replication across O6-methylguanine by human DNA polymerase β J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 5709-5721.

The spontaneous replication error and the mismatch discrimination mechanisms of human DNA polymerase β. Nucleic Acids Res. 2014, 42, 11233-12245.

Transition-state destabilization reveals how human DNA polymerase β proceeds across the chemically unstable lesion N7-methylguanine. Nucleic Acids Res. 2014, 42, 8755-8766.